I don’t doubt that Steve’s Northants badge is genuine either.
Sonofacqms initiated an interesting discussion on all WM badges a while ago (not sure how to find it). It was recognised that such badges were worn by the Vol Bns AND the TF Bns. It might be appropriate therefore to reiterate some historical facts before coming to a conclusion.
A WO directive of 22nd May 1901 allowed Vol Bn badges to be those of their ‘parent’ regiments but in WM and without honours.
The original regular bimetal Northants Regt cap badge with the old Gibraltar Castle design and long key was introduced in April 1898. This was succeeded in October 1901 by a design with the heraldically corrected castle and a short key.
The WO records do not have such details for any of the Vol Bns.
Sliders were first introduced in March 1903, specifically for wear on the Brodrick cap – as the badge was worn just above the band. This slider was some 60mm in length. With the loss of the Brodrick (to great rejoicing) and the adoption of the peaked forage cap, a WO order of March 1906 required that the “vertical shank (slider) be reduced in length, this being too long for the NP (new pattern) forage cap “. (BUT in India where they still wore the FSC, badges continued to be issued with loops up to 1914 !)
There are a number of undoubtedly genuine Vol Bn badges that have sliders but they will have been issued / worn within a relatively short time period.
In 1908 the new TF Regs stated that in “walking-out” uniform the badges would be WM (or blackened for e.g. rifle units). In SD they would be as their parent regts but without honours.
With these facts in mind, I reckon that the badge in question is a “new” TF badge for walking out dress that happens to use an old design – possibly one worn by a Vol Bn. The WO was far less fussy about the design of Vol / TF badges who in any case paid for their own which were usually, therefore, cheaper items.
In documentary terms, clarification might be found in the Northants Regt Standing Orders, wherever they may be !
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